Classification

Whether we go to the beach or the park, 

we always seem to come home 

with a bag (and pockets) 

full of treasures. 

Sorting them is just as much fun as finding them...

one, two

this one is blue

three, four

it’s shaped like a claw

five, six

long, pointy sticks

seven, eight

lay them out straight

nine, ten

a mangled old pen

eleven, twelve

shiny rocks on the shelf

thirteen, fourteen

these leaves are green

fifteen, sixteen

white shells washed clean

seventeen, eighteen

seeds shaped like a bean

nineteen, twenty

treasures a plenty!

Seashells

Some shells have spirals that wind 'round and 'round.

Others are white and easily found.

Some shells are cone-shaped with a small, pointy tip.

Some deep like a cup, from which you could sip.

Some shells have ridges, striations of colour.

Others lined with nacre, an artwork of wonder.

Some shells are shaped like a butterfly's wings.

Each side is the same and joined at the hinge.

Some shells are big and fill your whole hand.

Others are tiny - hard to find in the sand.

And when one's discovered, it's gently removed

from the beach which it laid on - that warm comfy groove.

Washed off in the water and dried on a towel.

Taken home as a treasure... (with a very soft) "Wow!"

Twelve Treasures

My children love to go treasure hunting. 

At the beach parks, we pretend to be on a boat which stops at islands, each holding a different treasure to find. Rough things, smooth things, brown things, green things. The emphasis always on texture or colour. As they've grown older, they like to find things based on clues, so I wrote this treasure hunting poem for them. It's simple - twelve treasures - that can be found while on a walk or playing in the park. 

Sometimes I'm round, sometimes I'm  l o n g .

When the wind blows I help make a song.

I'm a ... (leaf).

I grow down low right on the ground.

Under your feet I can be found.

I am ... (grass).

I'm made of wood and thin as can be.

I used to grow up on a tree.

I'm a ... (stick).

Sometimes I'm rough, sometimes I'm smooth.

Sometimes I'm big and hard to move!

I'm a ... (rock).

I can be pink, yellow, purple, or even red.

I'm found in every flowerbed.

I'm a ... (petal).

I'm found on trees and am often rough.

Trunks need me to stay really tough.

I am ... (bark).

I wear shiny armour and scuttle about.

I have six little legs and sometimes wings that spread out.

I'm a ... (beetle).

I have woody scales arranged in rows.

Up on a tree I used to grow.

I'm a ... (pinecone).

I'm made of grains, tiny and white.

A handful of me feels very light.

I am ... (sand).

I'm round like the moon or curved like a smile.

I hold tiny seeds tight for quite a while.

I'm a ... (seed pod).

I have three green leaves, each shaped like a heart.

If you find me with four, it's a lucky start!

I'm a ... (clover).

I carry my house on my back and move oh so   s  l  o  w  .

I like it best outside when the rain starts to flow.

I'm a ... (snail).

Ten Treasures

Wherever we go, we find treasures.

Big and small.

S m o o t h  and rough.

Treasures we can take home and keep; others we leave in their place.

All of them valuable.

I wrote a treasure-hunting poem for my kids here. 

For the park or the backyard.

This one is for the beach.

There are ten things to find.

Some days you might find them all.

Others, just a few.

It encourages them to look...

Ten Treasures

I’m often very hot

if you walk in bare feet;

but down below I’m cool-

a relief from the heat.

I am … (sand)

I used to be a home

for creatures in the sea;

washed up by the waves,

I’m as pretty as can be.

I’m a … (shell)

You can see me in the sand

and follow me somewhere;

The impression I leave

tells which creature’s been there.

I am … (footprints)

I burrow in the sand,

protected from waves;

On eight legs I scuttle-

when I’m feeling brave!

I’m a … (crab)

I have five pointed arms

and colours vivid bright;

I’m often found in rock pools-

water warm and light.

I’m a … (sea star)

I’m round and very prickly,

purple, brown or black;

My mouth is on the bottom,

spines up on my back.

I’m a … (sea urchin)

I have  l o n g, thin blades

and floats shaped like beads;

My fronds wave in the water

and tickle your feet.

I am … (seaweed)

I come in all sizes

and have glittery scales;

I swim very fast

with a flash of my tail.

I’m a … (fish)

Made of just sand

I stand majestic and tall;

You can often find shells

lining every wall.

I’m a … (sandcastle)

I have bright red legs

and a matching red beak;

I like to swoop down

to see what you eat!

I’m a … (seagull)

How many can you find?